Ethiopia: TPLF-Aligned Tigray Fighters Claim Recapture of Abiy Adi and Two Other Towns

Tigray fighters report counteroffensive gains in Tembien amid disputed territorial control.

October 16, 2026

By Kulu Media News Desk

TPLF-aligned Tigray fighters marching as group claims recapture of Abiy Adi

Armed fighters march along a rural road in Tigray, Ethiopia. TPLF-aligned forces claim to have recaptured Abiy Adi and two other towns in Central Tigray. File photo. Photo TPLF

TPLF-aligned Tigray fighters claim to have recaptured Abiy Adi and two other towns in Central Tigray, just over a week after Ethiopian federal forces and their Tigray Peace Force (TPF) allies took control of the strategically important town.

The Tigray Defense Forces (TDF), aligned with the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF), said its fighters launched a counteroffensive on Wednesday, October 14, 2026, and regained control of Abiy Adi, Shewate Higum and Yechila in the Tembien area.Shop African Art

According to a statement attributed to the group and and posted on Sheraro communication office facebook page on Thursday, October 15, TPLF-aligned fighters attacked government positions and claimed to have inflicted losses on opposing forces.

The group also claimed that its fighters had carried out several operations in recent days, targeting positions of Ethiopian government-aligned forces and capturing weapons.

The reported recapture of the three towns has not been independently verified. Ethiopian federal authorities and the TPF had not issued a publicly verified response to the latest claims at the time of the report.

Abiy Adi, the main town of Tembien in Central Tigray, is strategically important because of its position west of Mekelle and its connections to surrounding districts.

The latest claims follow the earlier capture of the town by Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF) and allied TPF fighters during their offensive against TPLF-aligned forces.Shop African Art

As previously documented by Kulu Media, government-aligned forces entered Abiy Adi on October 6, following fighting with TPLF-aligned fighters.

At the time, TPF commander General Gebreigziabher Beyene confirmed the advance to Agence France-Presse (AFP), while eyewitnesses contacted by Kulu Media separately confirmed the presence of ENDF and TPF fighters in the town.

If the latest counteroffensive claims are confirmed, the development would represent a significant reversal of territorial control in Central Tigray and demonstrate the continued ability of TPLF-aligned forces to launch attacks despite recent government advances.Shop African Art

The reported operation also follows earlier indications that TPLF-aligned forces intended to adopt more mobile military tactics rather than defend every town against advancing federal troops.

In an October 1 televised address, TPLF chairman Debretsion Gebremichael signaled that his forces could increasingly rely on mobile warfare and counteroffensives.

As detailed in Kulu Media’s earlier coverage of Debretsion’s war strategy, the TPLF leadership argued that withdrawals from towns should not necessarily be interpreted as a decisive military defeat.

The latest claims from Tembien appear consistent with that previously announced approach, although the extent of the reported counteroffensive remains uncertain.

The fighting comes as Ethiopian federal forces and their TPF allies have expanded control over several major towns across Tigray.

In recent days, government-aligned forces have entered Shire, Adigrat, Adwa and Aksum following the withdrawal of TPLF-aligned fighters from several urban areas.

The advances followed the withdrawal of TPLF-aligned fighters from Mekelle in early October, after which Ethiopian federal police began operating in the regional capital.

Despite these territorial gains, the presence of TPLF-aligned fighters in rural and mountainous areas has raised questions about whether government forces can maintain control beyond the main towns and transport routes.

The renewed fighting has also intensified tensions between Ethiopia and Eritrea, with Addis Ababa accusing Eritrean forces of entering Tigray and supporting armed groups opposed to the federal government.

International concern over the escalating confrontation has increased. On October 14, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed about the growing tensions and the need for de-escalation.

The fighting has placed further pressure on the November 2022 Pretoria peace agreement, which ended the previous two-year war in northern Ethiopia.

For Central Tigray, the latest claims highlight the continuing uncertainty over territorial control as opposing forces conduct military operations across urban and rural areas.

Whether TPLF-aligned fighters have established lasting control over Abiy Adi, Shewate Higum and Yechila remains unclear.

Independent confirmation of the reported counteroffensive, including the situation on the ground and any casualties, is still needed.